2015 Cubs Offseason Discussion

[JZsportsfan]

Friedman to the Dodgers can be scary

 

[beckdawg]

Not if winning 90 games two straight years is "bad" enough to get you fired. Part of the reason I think guys like Friedman work in small markets is because you're not fired over one year. These large market teams have entirely unrealistic expectations. It's the same lunacy in my opinion that lead to Theo getting fired in Boston. You're talking about a guy who'd won 95+ games 6 times there and his "worst" performance was a 86 win season. It seems like people just assume the 2011 Red Sox were bad because ultimately Francona and Theo got canned but that team won 90 games. And even if they did win the WS last year you're talking about 2 of the 3 seasons since his firing having them finishing sub-75 wins.

Perhaps you can argue Colletti was a bit different with them going yankee nuts spending but was that his choice or the ownership group urging them to make big moves? I feel like those sort of moves ultimately kill team building. I liken it to a college football program like Florida or Alabama who should arguably win a title yearly with the access they have to high end talent. There's possibly a lot of reason why programs like that fade but I think one of the major reasons is when you have a "star" at every position the mentality changes. There's been some talk about this in regard to Oakland where it went from being a case of the plucky underdogs to the favorites and the crumbled under that pressure. If you compare those big market teams to the expectations the cardinals often have I feel there's a vast difference. If the cardinals lose in the NLCS their GM isn't getting fired. I just feel it's silly that teams will can a successful guy because everything didn't come together for a couple years in a row.

 

[SilenceS]

Not if winning 90 games two straight years is "bad" enough to get you fired. Part of the reason I think guys like Friedman work in small markets is because you're not fired over one year. These large market teams have entirely unrealistic expectations. It's the same lunacy in my opinion that lead to Theo getting fired in Boston. You're talking about a guy who'd won 95+ games 6 times there and his "worst" performance was a 86 win season. It seems like people just assume the 2011 Red Sox were bad because ultimately Francona and Theo got canned but that team won 90 games. And even if they did win the WS last year you're talking about 2 of the 3 seasons since his firing having them finishing sub-75 wins.

Perhaps you can argue Colletti was a bit different with them going yankee nuts spending but was that his choice or the ownership group urging them to make big moves? I feel like those sort of moves ultimately kill team building. I liken it to a college football program like Florida or Alabama who should arguably win a title yearly with the access they have to high end talent. There's possibly a lot of reason why programs like that fade but I think one of the major reasons is when you have a "star" at every position the mentality changes. There's been some talk about this in regard to Oakland where it went from being a case of the plucky underdogs to the favorites and the crumbled under that pressure. If you compare those big market teams to the expectations the cardinals often have I feel there's a vast difference. If the cardinals lose in the NLCS their GM isn't getting fired. I just feel it's silly that teams will can a successful guy because everything didn't come together for a couple years in a row.

Theo and the owner never truly got along. Then, the whole clubhouse incidents. It felt like no discipline on the team. It all added up to Theo being out the door. It wasnt just because of one season.

 

[beckdawg]

Theo and the owner never truly got along. Then, the whole clubhouse incidents. It felt like no discipline on the team. It all added up to Theo being out the door. It wasnt just because of one season.

No one gave a shit about Manny being Manny when they were in the playoffs and winning.... just saying. Regardless, you're talking about firing a guy who was largely successful in must the same way that Colletti was. And since Theo was fired they've twice finished as pretty bad teams. In large market teams in particular, they seem to have this view that winning a title is their god given right. I think they often place far too little value on consistency. Having a consistent GM has been one of the factors of success in small/mid market teams like St. Louis and Atlanta.

 

[SilenceS]

No one gave a shit about Manny being Manny when they were in the playoffs and winning.... just saying. Regardless, you're talking about firing a guy who was largely successful in must the same way that Colletti was. And since Theo was fired they've twice finished as pretty bad teams. In large market teams in particular, they seem to have this view that winning a title is their god given right. I think they often place far too little value on consistency. Having a consistent GM has been one of the factors of success in small/mid market teams like St. Louis and Atlanta.

That was one player. This was a whole team drinking beer, eating fried chicken, playing video games. They lost that edge. Im not saying that was all on Theo, but he is the one that is going to get the blame. Also, like I said, him and the owner really didnt get along. Its hard to stay somewhere when your boss doesnt like you.

 

[CSF77]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/...ng-offer-to-cruz-decline-markakis-option.html

So Nick's option was declined and he was given a buy out. career 290/.358/.435 He might be an interesting choice for LF. Plus D and can lead off playing every day.

Cubs need more players that are not middle of the order hitters right now.

 

[SilenceS]

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2014/...ng-offer-to-cruz-decline-markakis-option.html

So Nick's option was declined and he was given a buy out. career 290/.358/.435 He might be an interesting choice for LF. Plus D and can lead off playing every day.

Cubs need more players that are not middle of the order hitters right now.

Not a bad idea, my question, Chris Coughlan put up similar stats and is a year younger and cheaper. I would have to see what he wants. I doubt the Cubs go big on him when Coughlan just produced the same type season.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

Would love to see Markakis in RF batting 2nd next year......

 

[Parade_Rain]

Would love to see Markakis in RF batting 2nd next year......

Soler has RF locked up.

 

[Boobaby1]

Not a bad idea, my question, Chris Coughlan put up similar stats and is a year younger and cheaper. I would have to see what he wants. I doubt the Cubs go big on him when Coughlan just produced the same type season.

Coghlan needs to be a role player, depth, and spot starter if Alcantara has sophomoric problems and can't adjust. Markakis has proven to have not only the OBP that the FO is looking for, but also a good average. Plus, he is very consistant.

The Cubs have positioned themselves for this very kind of move. He is a veteran, lefty, above average glove and would be ideal at the top of the line-up in the 1 or 2-slot.

The Cubs need to start taking some question marks out of the line-up, and putting checkmarks next to certain positions.

 

[SilenceS]

Coghlan needs to be a role player, depth, and spot starter if Alcantara has sophomoric problems and can't adjust. Markakis has proven to have not only the OBP that the FO is looking for, but also a good average. Plus, he is very consistant.

The Cubs have positioned themselves for this very kind of move. He is a veteran, lefty, above average glove and would be ideal at the top of the line-up in the 1 or 2-slot.

The Cubs need to start taking some question marks out of the line-up, and putting checkmarks next to certain positions.

Are you saying because he has a track record? I dont think we can argue that Coughlan gave the same production last year.

 

[chibears55]

The Cubs need to start taking some question marks out of the line-up, and putting checkmarks next to certain positions.

Cubs have checkmarks at every position next year except LF

C. Castillo
1B. Rizzo
2B. Baez
SS. Castro
3B. Bryant (May)
LF. Open
CF. Alcantara
RF. Soler

Im gonna safely assume this is what were going to see all year unless someone goes into a major slump..

This is why besides a LFer, back up Catcher, and maybe another Utility player, i dont see much action this off season on any position players transactions. . Their pretty much set there.

Also, besides the 2 SP epstein says hed like to get, i dont see them doing much else on the pitching side..

they dont need much and their going to have money and payroll flexibility to get who they want, its just going to be a matter of if those guys they want, want to join them.

 

[beckdawg]

That was one player. This was a whole team drinking beer, eating fried chicken, playing video games. They lost that edge. Im not saying that was all on Theo, but he is the one that is going to get the blame. Also, like I said, him and the owner really didnt get along. Its hard to stay somewhere when your boss doesnt like you.

Either way, Theo isn't the only successful GM to be thrown out by a team that feels you have to win ever year. That was really my only point. Theo was just an example.

 

[Boobaby1]

Cubs have checkmarks at every position next year except LF

C. Castillo
1B. Rizzo
2B. Baez
SS. Castro
3B. Bryant (May)
LF. Open
CF. Alcantara
RF. Soler

Im gonna safely assume this is what were going to see all year unless someone goes into a major slump..

This is why besides a LFer, back up Catcher, and maybe another Utility player, i dont see much action this off season on any position players transactions. . Their pretty much set there.

Also, besides the 2 SP epstein says hed like to get, i dont see them doing much else on the pitching side..

they dont need much and their going to have money and payroll flexibility to get who they want, its just going to be a matter of if those guys they want, want to join them.

I wouldn't say they are set at too many positions, especially for a team that just won 73 games, and the Cubs think they can get pieces to compete for a divisional title. That is asking a lot to turn around for some young kids.

Just because they think someone will start there, doesn't check off the box IMO. LF is probably the safest pick, but you can't say that CF is a given if the right person were found or become available, and catcher could be another one.

To say they are set when one rookie hits .165, another .205, both with SO problems and very low OBP is troublesome, and a catcher that doesn't frame well leads me to believe nothing is safe either.

Probably the safest bets are RF, 1B, SS, and 2B. The rest of the positions IMO should be up for grabs and pounced on if the opportunity presents itself to upgrade. I know Bryant figures to be thrown in there, but where? Who knows?

 

[chibears55]

I wouldn't say they are set at too many positions, especially for a team that just won 73 games, and the Cubs think they can get pieces to compete for a divisional title. That is asking a lot to turn around for some young kids.

Just because they think someone will start there, doesn't check off the box IMO. LF is probably the safest pick, but you can't say that CF is a given if the right person were found or become available, and catcher could be another one.

To say they are set when one rookie hits .165, another .205, both with SO problems and very low OBP is troublesome, and a catcher that doesn't frame well leads me to believe nothing is safe either.

Probably the safest bets are RF, 1B, SS, and 2B. The rest of the positions IMO should be up for grabs and pounced on if the opportunity presents itself to upgrade. I know Bryant figures to be thrown in there, but where? Who knows?

Sure they may eventually look to upgrade at positions, but that won't be this off season. .
Their going to give these kids every opportunity to succeed all year and like I said , unless they go into a terrible slump they will stay in the lineup all year.


Castillo doing everything else good enough to keep his job next year, so to can him because of framing pitches is laughable and sorry but dumb..

I doubt they sit Alcantara, he going to get his opportunity. .

Their going to be looking for a LFer, Bryant for at least 2015 will be playing 3B..

So again for 2015, the only question mark now is who going to play LF

 

[Parade_Rain]

Yeah. Let's get rid of Castillo because he doesn't frame well. Where do people come up with this stuff? Outside of some glove work, he is a quality defensive catcher.

 

[Zvbxrpl]

Yeah. Let's get rid of Castillo because he doesn't frame well. Where do people come up with this stuff? Outside of some glove work, he is a quality defensive catcher.

He can't call a game, one of the most essential parts of being a catcher. That's where 'not framing well' comes from. And casting it off under 'glove work' is foolish.

Don't get me wrong, stopping a wild/off balanced pitch he's great at. And for a guy trying to steal second, Castillo has one of the better arms to put that throw to 2nd base to try and get the runner out. He also isn't the worst at offense either.

Baseball prospectus ranked top framing catchers/catchers and pitcher combos that call/throw the best games. No surprises, Jonathan Lucroy and Yadier Molina (the two best game callers) and their pitchers are near the top.

Castillo's highest ranking and pairing with no runs at cost to/counted against the catcher? 184th with Carlos Villanueva.

That's a problem. Guy cant call a game.

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/sortable/index.php?cid=1705869

 

[Zvbxrpl]

But I'm not saying 'can him,' but its hard not to take notice of the cubs' acquisition and drafting of far more youth at the C position. I'd love to see Schwarber call a game, especially since he says he wants to stay at catcher. Zagunis is supposed to be real good, and I don't know much about Caratini.

 

[SilenceS]

But I'm not saying 'can him,' but its hard not to take notice of the cubs' acquisition and drafting of far more youth at the C position. I'd love to see Schwarber call a game, especially since he says he wants to stay at catcher. Zagunis is supposed to be real good, and I don't know much about Caratini.

Schwarber if stays at catcher would be brutal defensively. I wouldnt say Mike Piazza bad, but along those lines.

 

[brett05]

Schwarber if stays at catcher would be brutal defensively. I wouldnt say Mike Piazza bad, but along those lines.

But if he can hit like Piazza.....